Extending Your Warehouse Efficiency with Mobile Printers

Mobilizing your workforce and automating workflows with mobile computers is a great way to boost efficiency, especially in warehousing. But it’s easy to squander some of your gains if workers still have to walk back-and-forth to a centralized printer hub or workstation to print and apply labels.

Many companies are still using stationary printers, which means their workers don’t have instant access to barcode labeling wherever they need it. Instead, they end up having to repeatedly walk to printer stations to print labels, or they have to pre-print entire batches of barcode labels and carry them around or bring them to the warehouse aisle or packing and shipping area.

It’s an inefficient process that not only wastes time workers could be spending on other value-added activities, but also creates mislabeling risks because there’s often an interruption and a delay between picking, packing, or shipping and applying labels. If the wrong label is applied because workers are getting interrupted or having to apply large batches of labels, that means costly shipment errors and other mistakes that can damage customer service.

The better approach is to make the switch to lightweight and durable mobile label printers. Mobile printers bring label, tag, and receipt printing to virtually any location inside or outside the warehouse.

Workers can print in a warehouse aisle, on a forklift, in a delivery vehicle, or even at a customer’s door. They can even “wear” a mobile printer by attaching it to a shoulder or belt strap, which creates a hands-free solution.

Printing at the point of label application simplifies and shortens the entire process and eliminates extra steps. This allows workers to pick, pack, ship, and deliver products faster, more accurately, and more efficiently, without the errors that easily occur with batch-printed labels and interrupted labeling processes.

Additionally, when using mobile printers outside the four walls, truck and delivery drivers can print invoices and receipts on the go, from inside a vehicle or even at a customer’s doorstep or loading dock.

Best of all, you can integrate your mobile printers with the rest of your industrial or desktop printers, so the same labeling functionality and processes are available from any stationary or mobile printer.

All you need is a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection for your mobile printers, which can be paired easily with companion mobile computers.

For the best results in printing flexibility, performance, and durability, our team at TPI recommends using Zebra’s ZQ600 mobile barcode printers paired with Zebra mobile computers and stationary printers.

The ZQ600 model features a large color display and easy-to-use buttons, so it’s easy to operate your mobile printer and see the status of every print job.

The printer is lightweight and wearable with an ergonomic design, so it’s comfortable to wear for an entire shift. A seamless, one-piece device, the ZQ600 also features a tempered glass display and high-grade resin for high-impact concrete drop resistance and IP43 dust and water resistance.

Additionally, Zebra’s PowerPrecision+ intelligent battery technology ensures full-shift printing power, while the printer automatically enters sleep mode when idle and automatically wakes up as soon as a print job is sent to it.

You can also count on blazingly fast and powerfully secure connections using 802.11ac Wi-Fi or Bluetooth 4.1 Classic or Low Energy connectivity.

With additional accessories including cradles, battery chargers, and carrying straps and cases, it’s easy to get started and create a complete mobile printing solution for any process in your warehouse and beyond.